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Tuesday, 17 December 2013

More of the same for 2014?

As 2013 draws to a close it is hard to think of any of our affiliated unions that have not been in dispute or on strike during the year. Most recently UCU and UNISON members at local colleges have taken strike action and FBU colleagues will continue action on both Christmas and New Years eves. Lewisham Trades council members have offered support to every dispute this year and visited every picket line to show our solidarity during the year.

Austerity

A common cause of every dispute is the Austerity measures of the current Coalition government. They have cut jobs, slashed services and attacked conditions in the name of reducing the deficit. Attacks on the benefit system and scapegoating of migrant workers show the government's true colours.

Tax and spend

What the government fail to do is make the bankers, big business or their rich mates pay their share. Every year these lot profit from the£120 billion, avoided, evaded or not collected taxes.Put it simply if the rich paid what they owed, there would be no deficit.. If Corporation and other taxes were collected rather than avoided, PFI contracts on Lewisham and all other Hospitals could be cancelled.

Our work continues

Trades Council members are currently working with Lewisham Council on concrete steps to promote the London Living Wage and decent contacts for everyone working in Lewisham. We are also committed to promote employment opportunities as a way of reducing benefit dependency. We are in no doubt however that we will also be involved in disputes against the attacks we face.